CHAPTER 7: A Bitter Draught


Lucas was beginning to loathe his time at Hogwarts.

It had been just over one month since his failed duel with Merula and things had not gotten any easier for the young wizard. The rumors surrounding him and his brother had only intensified in the time since. And the story that Jacob was alive and working for the Dark Lord had now fully seized the school.

Waiting outside Greenhouse One for Professor Sprout, the first-year students stood huddled together as they tried to keep warm in the cold November air. Standing separate from their classmates were Lucas and Rowan who no one wanted to be next to.

"Good morning, children," Professor Sprout chipperly greeted the first-year students "A bit nippy today so let's get inside. Greenhouse should get you all warm again."

The children followed the teacher inside the greenhouse. The difference in temperature slowly lifting the students' disposition. Lucas and Rowan stayed in the back of the body of students gathering around their Herbology professor as they listened to her explanation of today's subject. Struggling to hear what Professor Sprout was saying, both boys moved closer.

Nymphadora Tonks immediately glanced at Lucas before shuffling away searching for a new spot, looking uncomfortable. Henry Billingsley, meanwhile, grimaced at the prospect of having to stand next to him. Lucas let out a sigh, next to Rowan the only student between all the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs that treated him the same was Chiara Lobosca - and that was only because that witch kept her distance from everyone.

"Mister Blackburn, are you paying attention?" Sprout's question pierced through the air, snapping Lucas out of his train of thoughts. Close by he could hear Merula and Ismelda snicker at the scene as all eyes rested on him.

"Yes, Professor," Blackburn answered. Sprout responded with a frown but otherwise said nothing before resuming her talk.

Class continued. Today's lesson was about Moly. Sprout explained the plant's many beneficial uses before going into detail on how to treat and tend to the plant. Blackburn followed along, but made no attempt to answer the questions their teacher raised despite knowing the answer to them. Lucas found little interest or desire to engage in class, all it would do would be to draw more unwanted attention towards him. The last thing Lucas wanted right now.

But it was not just the attitude from his classmates that wore on Lucas. The Christmas Holiday was approaching which meant that more essays and homework was on its way. Just a few hours earlier McGonagall gave them two chapters worth of reading to do in preparation of transforming parchment into dinner plates, alongside having to write a paper summarizing the difference between transforming living creatures and inanimate objects into something else. And Herbology class concluded with Sprout announcing that they were to write a large essay on the properties of Nettles, Asphodels and Aconite due to the beginning of December. Rowan was perhaps one of the few who reacted with any enthusiasm hearing this news.

"Cheer up, Lucas," Rowan said as they left the greenhouse "If we work with Ben. The three of us will have those essays done in no time."

"It will still take two weekends to get it all done at least," Lucas countered in a dour tone, wishing there would be more time for fun and relaxation instead.

The two wizards traveled to their common room and swiftly cleaned themselves up after another messy Herbology lesson. Despite the fact that Charms was not until two-forty today, Lucas and Rowan still rushed to get to the great hall in order to catch Ben before the Gryffindor student's lunch break was over.

"Hi, Ben," Lucas greeted the Muggleborn wizard as the two Slytherins approached him. Copper was sitting by himself away from the rest of the members of his House.

"Hey, Lucas, hey, Rowan," Ben looked up to welcome the two of them "How's it going?" Copper quickly glanced behind the two Slytherin students to make sure no trouble (that was to say - Merula) was following them.

"Not well," Lucas grumbled, sitting down alongside Rowan as Copper gestured them to join him "I think Professor Sprout and McGonagall are trying to drown us in homework."

"How bad is it?" Ben cautiously asked.

"We've just got two essays to be done by the start of December," Rowan explained "Lucas is making it sound worse than it really is."

"You're forgetting those two chapters we have to read for tomorrow in Transfiguration," Blackburn countered "And that's not counting all the homework the rest of the teachers will drop on us!"

Ben, who had listened to Lucas' argument, turned his head to face Rowan "It does sound like a lot," He concurred with Blackburn.

Rowan shook his head "I think you're both being too negative about this. I'm personally looking forward to writing these. It will give us a good opportunity to show what we have learned."

The three wizards continued discussing homework while eating lunch. While planning for when to do it together, Rowan was the first to suggest a time.

"What about on Saturday?" Khanna spoke out while buttering a piece of bread "We could start after lunch." Copper gave a weak nod while munching on a sandwich, having no clear objection. Lucas, however, shook his head.

"We can't start early, not on Saturday anyway," Blackburn protested "That's when the first match of the Quidditch tournament is played!" Lucas immediately turned to look at Copper "You have to see Quidditch, Ben! It's the best sport in the world!"

"So Diomedes and Weasley keep telling me," Ben meekly answered back.

"Give it a chance!" Lucas continued "If you like Football then you'll love Quidditch! Don't worry, I'll help explain if you have any questions."

Ben offered another nod as a sign of agreement. Lucas turned to Khanna "What about you, Rowan? Please tell me you're joining us."

Khanna shrugged his shoulders "I suppose I can watch the game with the two of you, but I really think we should study after the match is over."

"Sure, we can study after we watched Quidditch," Lucas answered before turning his sight back to Ben "Or if the weather is good we can borrow a broom and practice flying again. It has been two weeks since we last did so."

Both Khanna and Copper gave a glance between each other. Neither of them looking very enthusiastic about the idea. Despite Lucas' insistence on them continuing practicing, thanks to a combination of the weather getting worse and worse throughout October, and a simple lack of any meaningful progress. Both Ben and Rowan had lost their appetite for getting outdoors and flying. Preferring instead to study in the library or playing Gobstone in some hidden area of the castle.

"Lucas, we've already tried getting me to fly for over a month now," Ben objected "It hasn't worked. Let's just drop it."

Blackburn frowned "Hooch will have us try basic maneuvers soon and you're still struggling to take off and fly straight. You have to keep training or you'll never pass."

"The final tests are only around the exam period," Rowan commented "We can resume flying again when we're in the new year and winter is over."

The three wizards continued to debate the issue. Lucas remained certain that they should keep practicing while Rowan and Ben both argued against it. In the end, Ben reluctantly agreed to practice flying on Saturday provided the weather was good.

Afterwards their talk moved on to other subjects.

"Has anyone seen what Merula has been up to?" Ben whispered, leaning closer to the other two "I haven't noticed her outside of class the last two days. Is it true that she fought Marius Edgecomb?"

Blackburn and Khanna looked at each other, both silent for a moment before Rowan began to speak "It's true. Though fought might be too generous a way to describe it. Marius had doubted Merula's powers so she confronted him. Edgecomb didn't stand a chance."

"Just like me…" Lucas thought bleakly.

Edgecomb was one of the wizards from Ravenclaw and the latest of Merula's victims. Just a week before she had cornered the Muggleborn Abby Fletcher and doused her with a spoiled Cure-for-Boils elixir, resulting in the Gryffindor Witch getting covered in terrible blisters. The Slytherin sorcerer had ever since her victory over Lucas ruled supreme over all of the first-years. Nobody was able to defy her.

Ben cringed "She's never going to stop is she?"

"Not unless someone successfully stands up to her," Rowan mulled.

"I thought I could defeat her," Lucas murmured, drawing the eyes of both his friends "I should have defeated her the first time."

"You can still do it, Lucas," Khanna tried to assure his friend "I still think you have what it takes to stop her."

"Thanks, Rowan," Lucas mumbled, staring vacantly down at his empty plate "I suppose I do."

"Maybe we should just keep our heads low instead?" Ben spoke out "Maybe she'll ignore us in the end?"

Silence brewed between the three wizards, All of them contemplating Ben's suggestion. Eventually Copper rose up from his seat.

"I should be going anyway. My lunch break is over," Ben gestured towards the exit "I'll see you in Charms class."

The two Slytherins said farewell to Ben. Watching the Gryffindor student leave, Lucas suddenly noticed that two older students had been watching him from afar; Amadeus and Colton.

Lucas' felt his stomach beginning to churn. He decided to end his meal and prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?" Rowan asked him.

"Practicing. See you next class," Lucas answered bluntly before heading out, slinging his messenger style bag around his shoulder.

Blackburn kept his head low as he left the great hall, avoiding any eye-contact with either of the two older students watching him. He walked at a brisk pace, pushing his way past students more busy chatting with each other than heading to class. Stopping only to ensure he was not followed by anyone.

Taking the grand staircase, Lucas traveled to the third floor. Going past the statue of Marcus Wolfslayer. Lucas journeyed down several corridors, arriving at a deserted classroom he had used previously. He entered it.

The room was in the same condition as he last left it in. A large portion of it was empty space with most of the tables and chairs being stored to the side. A few dusty old books laid scattered on the floor, target practice for Lucas when trying to cast the Knockback Jinx. There was nothing special or unique about this room in particular, it had simply been one Lucas had found together with Rowan when they initially explored Hogwarts together.

Blackburn placed his bag on a nearby table before collecting the stray books on the floor and lining them up to be used.

Standing in the middle of the room. Lucas drew out his wand. Aiming it at the book he placed furthest to the left.

"Flipendo,"Lucas said, replicating the check-mark like pattern as he had read it in the instructions provided by their school book.

A small thump could be heard in the room and the book fell as if it had been given a gentle push.

Lucas frowned. He held out his wand, studying it. Blackburn did not want to admit it, but he had difficulties casting the spell with any consistency from the beginning. Every other spell he had studied so far had not given him any problems, only the Knockback Jinx was giving him trouble.

He wondered why - Why had he failed to fully cast this spell? Was it simply lack of good instructions from a professor? Or was it something more personal?

The boy placed the book back up and prepared for his second try.

"Flipendo!"

A loud bang reverberated inside the room as the book went flying through it and smashed against the wall. The boy drew no smile despite his success, searching instead for another book as his next target. It was not enough to cast the spell once, that he had done before already, but until he could cast the jinx several times without trouble he had not truly mastered it.

Over an hour passed with Lucas trying again and again to achieve his goal. Sometimes he could achieve two successful incantations in a row, but never three.

"Flipendo!" Lucas said as he casted the spell after another fizzle. Smashing the book against the wall. Already he had lined another book up close by, ready and waiting. He took aim.

"Flipendo!"

A loud bang heralded a good execution of the jinx as the second book went flying. He pointed the wand at a third book.

"Flipendo!"

Success. The third book was blown away as he completed the incantation of the spell. A satisfied smile drew on the boy's lips as he heard the book land on the floor with a strong smack. He had finally done it, after months of working on the Knockback Jinx he had finally casted it repeatedly without issue.

Lowering his wand arm, Lucas wondered if this meant he was finally ready to fight Merula and any other who might bully him. But it was one thing to knock down some dusty tomes off a table, it was another to cast a spell in the middle of a wizarding duel. Truth be told, he was not sure, he supposed there would be only one way to find out.

Lucas looked at the time on his watch; two-twenty.

With only twenty minutes left until Charms class. Lucas quickly grabbed his bag and left the old classroom to be deserted once more.

As always on Mondays, Lucas found Slytherin and Gryffindor first-years waiting for the Charms classroom to be emptied of its current set of students being taught. The members of each House kept separate by standing on their own side of the door. The only two mingling being Rowan and Ben who Lucas went to join.

"Try not to rub your curse on the rest of us, Blackburn," Julian Diomedes derided Lucas as the two of them entered the classroom simultaneously. Lucas wanted to talk back but held his tongue, not wanting to escalate and possibly get into trouble. Another self-satisfied snicker could be heard from Merula further back, making Blackburn grit his teeth.

"Just ignore them," Rowan tried to calm him as the three friends found their preferred seats.

"Just ignore them..." Lucas thought bitterly, how much easier said than done. Especially after weeks of enduring the same taunts and insults over and over again.

Lucas said nothing as he dropped his school bag at his seat and prepared for Charms to begin.

Flitwick had them revise the Levitation Charm before they would move on to learn the Unlocking Charm alongside its counter-charm. And as luck would have it, Flitwick ended up asking Lucas to help out Diomedes with his casting of the Levitation Charm.

"You need to correct both your pronunciation and wand movement," Lucas explained, waving his hand with a swish-and-flick motion as the spell required "Like this."

Blackburn proceeded to cast the spell on a feather in front of him, doing his best to make his incantations of the charm as clear as possible (wing-GAR-dee-um leh-vee-OH-sa). Diomedes, meanwhile, watched with arms crossed and a surly look in his eyes.

"I don't need you to pronounce every part of the incantation for me," Diomedes sneered after Lucas was done with his demonstration. The blonde-haired Gryffindor student readied his own wand and tried to cast the spell - and without success.

"Why doesn't that stupid feather float?" Diomedes bemoaned at his lack of results.

Lucas rolled his eyes in exasperation "Just listen to me. You are getting both the wand movement and the words wrong!" He held out his wand arm once more "Look how I do it - Wingardium Leviosa!"

"I am saying it correctly!" Julian insisted.

"No, you're not!" Lucas argued "You need to say 'wing-GAR-dee-um'and not 'wing-GAR-di-am.'"

The two students continued their bickering, drawing the attention of not just the surrounding students, but Professor Flitwick as well.

"Mister Blackburn, Mister Diomedes, what is the meaning of this commotion?" The small professor asked from his podium of books.

"Diomedes is not listening to my instructions, Professor," Lucas explained to Flitwick.

Flitwick looked at the Gryffindor student "Is this true, Mister Diomedes?"

"No, Professor!" Diomedes protested "I am listening, my feather just won't levitate for some reason."

"Mister Blackburn has already mastered the Levitation Charm," Flitwick pointed out "Why would his method of casting the charm be insufficient?"

"Maybe he's just giving wrong instructions in order to make Slytherin look better?" Diomedes responded, pausing only for a moment to give Lucas the evil eye "Or maybe Blackburn is simply starting to spread his curse to the rest of us?"

The majority of the Gryffindors agreed with the theory that it was either a Slytherin ploy or Lucas' bad luck infecting the rest of them, only Copper and Weasley did not settle on Diomedes' conclusion.

Blackburn's cheeks flared up in anger upon hearing the accusation. But if Lucas had hoped for any members of his House to back him up he would be sorely disappointed. As always, most of them were either passive or joining in on his condemnation, with Rowan being the exception. The solitary Slytherin standing by him.

"Don't try to blame me for-" Lucas tried to talk back, only to be interrupted midway through.

"Enough! Both of you!" Flitwick barked out, cutting Lucas short "Mister Diomedes, please move over next to Mister Weasley," The Professor raised a hand in gesture towards the ginger-haired student before looking at him "Mister Weasley, would you be so kind as to help Mister Diomedes with the Levitation Charm?"

As Julian Diomedes moved away, Flitwick glared at both him and Blackburn. The professor said nothing but the disappointment stood plain on his face "I expected better from the both of you."

Lucas spent the remainder of Charms class stewing in frustration over what had just happened. Upset that Diomedes would blame him for his own mistakes, that the Gryffindors would side against him and that Flitwick saw him equally responsible. By the time the bell rang Lucas wished more than anything to just go back to his dormitory and disconnect from the rest of school.

But any such thoughts had to be put to the side, for there were still double-Potions lessons left with the teacher Lucas hated most above all.

Moving into the dungeons. The Slytherins joined the Hufflepuffs in the Potions classroom. A loud smack heralded Professor Snape's entrance as he barged through the door, the potion-master's mood even worse than usual.

The entire classroom was quiet as Snape paced up to his desk and chalkboard, none of them daring to say a word unless given permission.

"Today you will learn to brew the Wiggenweld potion. It is a powerful healing elixir that can be used to heal injuries, or reverse the effects of a Sleeping Draught," The Professor began, waving his wand at the blackboard and letting the chalk start writing on its own "It is a more complex formula than any of your previous potions, be mindful when handling some of the ingredients; especially the sloth brain mucus."

Snape proceeded to demonstrate how to brew the elixir to the entire class who gathered around the professor and his cauldron, scribbling away as Snape told in meticulous detail the exact recipe for creating the perfect Wiggendweld potion.

"Put down your hand, Mister Lee, before I take points from you," The professor said as he added lionfish spines into the cauldron. Like always Snape was fast in his instructions and thanks to his poor mood even less inclined to answer questions from students. Leaving pupils like Barnaby more lost than usual.

By the time Snape was through with his exposition, Lucas was desperate for the lesson to be over. But Blackburn knew the hardest part was still to be done, it was their turn to actually brew the potion.

"You must be excited, Blackburn," Merula mocked as she and Lucas were setting up their equipment "Another opportunity to prove you're a failure."

Lucas struggled not to look up from his cauldron and talk back to Merula "Just focus on getting your equipment ready," He thought "Nothing good can come from it."

"You can go up and get the ingredients we need, Lucas," Khanna whispered to him "I'll keep an eye on Merula to make sure she doesn't mess with your potion again."

Lucas nodded in agreement. Collecting the ingredients he and Rowan would need, Damian Aquino walked up next to him.

"Try not to mess up today's potion, Lucas," The twin said "You've already lost Slytherin enough house points."

Blackburn responded by banging the cupboard shut in Aquino's face.

With all the necessary components gathered, Lucas and Khanna began their creation of the Wiggenweld potion. Merula, meanwhile, took great joy in launching the occasional verbal jab at the two of them in between her own brewing of the elixir.

"I've been meaning to ask you, Blackburn," Merula spoke with feigned curiosity "Was it 'wing-GAR-dee-um' or 'wing-GAR-di-am'?" She gently stirred her pot, awaiting a reaction from Lucas.

Blackburn and Khanna glanced at each other, neither of the two wizards saying anything. Merula frowned.

"What about other spells?" The sorcerer leaned forward "Do you know how to cast any - like the Knockback Jinx?"

"I know how to cast Flipendo," Lucas said, still watching the contents of his own cauldron.

"What was that?" Snyde asked with false politeness. Lucas looked up.

"I can cast the Knockback Jinx," Lucas repeated more loudly. The witch leaned back.

"Oh, so you can?" She said, smiling "It sure did not seem like that the last time as I recall."

Rowan was watching from the side with unease, eyes darting around, hoping Snape was not on his way. Lucas stared at the witch for a moment, mouth ajar. He had been about to say something in retort but had managed to stop himself. He suddenly felt Rowan giving him a slight nudge.

"Lucas, I think it's time to add five more lionfish spines," Khanna pointed at his cauldron. The liquid in it had turned yellow, signaling when it was time to add another batch of lionfish spines.

Blackburn turned his focus back to the task at hand. Working together with Rowan, the two wizards cooperated to make sure their potions were made correctly. Carefully following the steps as laid out by their professor.

Occasionally Lucas would look up to see how others were doing. Barnaby and Skye were sitting together at a different table, doing their best to help each other out. Unfortunately neither of them were much good at Potions, resulting in Snape scolding both of them in a scenario that was all too common.

"Foolish boy!" Professor Snape spat "You put far too little Salamander blood in your brew! Are you truly that incapable of reading measurements?!" The potion-master turned to look at Skye "And you, Miss Parkin. Why didn't you correct Mister Lee when he was making his mistake? Too busy boasting about your father I suppose."

Snape docked a single point from each student and left before either Skye or Barnaby could explain themselves. Watching how defeated both Parkin and Lee looked, Lucas couldn't help but feel sorry for both of them.

Considering the fact that Snape was in a bad enough mood that he was willing to take points from Slytherin; something the Professor would only consider if it had been Blackburn making the mistake. Lucas was feeling more stressed than usual as he waited for his potion to finish cooling down. Soon Snape would inspect everyone's work and render his critique of them.

"Adequate work, Miss Lobosca," Snape stated as he inspected some of the Hufflepuff students "Excellent as always, Miss Haywood."

The professor complimented the Aquino twins for their well-crafted potions. Finally he went to Lucas' table.

"Your potion looks perfect, Lucas!" Rowan said, leaning over to see how Blackburn's final result looked like.

"Perfect?" Snape said as he approached the table, looking down to examine Lucas' result "His work appears merely passable."

"But I did everything as you instructed!" Lucas protested in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, how could Snape say his potion was anything but good?

"Everything but add the precise amount of ingredients to your potion!" Snape pointed at Lucas' cauldron "You were too sparse with the brain mucus."

"That's because Blackburn doesn't have any brains to spare, Professor" Merula heckled from the side. The professor raised a hand demanding silence from the two students, Lucas had to bite down hard on his tongue to not talk back. Snape moved his hand, gesturing towards Merula's cauldron.

"Unlike yours, however, Miss Snyde's concoction is flawless."

Lucas glanced over to Merula, a smug smile spreading on her lips upon hearing Snape's appraisal. She returned his gaze.

"Professor Snape recognises perfection when he sees it," The sorcerer bragged "As well as your ineptitude, Blackburn."

It was all too much for him to take.

"What?" Lucas' gaze narrowed back in on Snape "My potion is just as good as hers!"

The lines on Snape's face tensed for the briefest moment and a cold anger flared up in the dark pits of his eyes. All attention in the classroom was now concentrated on the two of them, whispers filling the air around them. The professor leaned closer to Lucas, staring him down.

"Are you the potion master, Blackburn?" Snape asked in an icy voice that would drain the courage from most students. Lucas, however, was too incensed to back down. Every frustration, insult and taunt he had endured and bottled up for weeks were now pouring out of him.

"Maybe I should be," Lucas snapped back. The room became dead silent upon his words. Even Lucas himself was taken back at what he had just said, eyes widened in horror at what he had done.

A sneer slowly formed itself on Snape. Straightening himself up to his full height once more, eyes still locked with Blackburn.

"I was going to take House points from Slytherin, but instead I will take time to prepare a far more severe punishment."

Blackburn swallowed hard and felt his mouth go dry. Snape moved on to finish his examination of the remaining potions. Lucas spent the rest of class in complete dread wondering what his punishment was going to be. Across from him sat an amused Merula, clearly satisfied with what she just witnessed. She had been deliberate with her taunts earlier he bitterly thought, she wanted him to get angry in hopes of him talking back at Snape.

As class ended and everyone was packing their bags. Snape called out from the back of the room.

"Mister Blackburn, you will stay," The professor ordered.

Lucas and Rowan shared a worried look with each other, both pale with fear. Lucas nodded towards the exit, urging his friend to go ahead "I'll see you at dinner hopefully."

Rowan left, leaving only Lucas and Snape behind in the classroom.

"Blackburn," Snape ordered again "Please close the door and come over here."

Lucas complied. Closing the door as instructed, Lucas walked with heavy steps over to Snape's desk where the professor was already sitting.

"Now then," Severus said, speaking in his usual soft tone "For your punishment."

"Professor-"

"Silence!" Snape demanded "I have no interest in your excuses."

The potion-master paused. He rose up from his chair to fully meet Lucas' eyes, hands still resting on his desk.

"Just as when you first started, you act exactly like your brother. You think yourself superior to everyone, student or professor, invincible to any and all consequences."

Lucas did not shrink or balk under his teacher's gaze, hearing his Head-of-House talk ill of his brother only rekindled his anger for the professor. Snape continued.

"Until Christmas, you will be here - in this classroom - at six o'clock precisely, to help clean up the room and any equipment in it. And you will stay here until that task is done. You will do that every workday starting today. Are we clear?"

Lucas' breathing deepended hearing his punishment, his face red from anger already. Barely containing himself, the young boy remained silent. Snape leaned forward again, narrowing the gap between them.

"Are we clear?" Snape repeated.

"Yes, Professor," Blackburn acknowledged through gritted teeth. Snape leaned back into his chair, nodding.

"Good," The potion-master said, gesturing towards a table filled with empty vials and other used contraptions "Then start now."

Lucas spent the next two hours cleaning and scrubbing tables, vials, cauldrons, and more clear from dirt, grime, and other disgusting remains left behind after a day's worth of potion-making by an entire school. Blackburn had difficulties in particular with washing one vial filled with a strange red gloop that clung to the sides of the glass and remained resistant to water and other cleansing methods.

Snape silently sat at his desk writing notes, occasionally the professor would look up to ensure Lucas was still working before returning to his text. Blackburn said nothing either, knowing it would most likely only anger his Head-of-House further.

By the end, Lucas had cleaned what felt like over a hundred items of various sizes from all sorts of nasty remnants. And as the clock read a quarter-past-eight, Lucas' stomach was growling something fierce. His last meal had been at midday and after two hours of cleaning, he was desperate for a bite of food. Walking up to Snape, Blackburn quietly informed the professor that he was done cleaning the room.

The potion-master rose from his chair, beckoning Lucas to follow him. Walking to various tables, the teacher examined various of the now clean containers to ensure Lucas had done an acceptable job.

"This looks sufficient," Snape said, putting back the fifth vial he had inspected. He turned to Lucas "You may go now, Mister Blackburn."

Lucas gave a weak nod in return, feeling too tired to talk. Leaving the Potions classroom, he just wanted to get back to the great hall and get some food before dinner was over.

Walking through the dungeon corridors, Lucas noticed a change in the air. The dungeons were always colder than the other parts of the castle, especially in winter, but there was something different about it now. He shuddered instinctively, freezing even under his dark school robes.

The boy stopped. He couldn't say why, but Lucas had suddenly gotten a feeling that he was not alone. That some other power was present nearby. Looking behind his back, Blackburn wondered if it were Snape or perhaps one of the ghosts sneaking up on him. But none were following him.

Looking to his side, Lucas saw something that made his eyes narrow in. From the far-end of one of the passageways, fog was emerging. The young wizard gazed down the path, he had never seen any such haze anywhere else in the school, dungeon or otherwise.

Stepping into the other corridor, Lucas travelled down to its end stopping only when it made its first turn. He looked around, it was the spot he had seen the fog emerge from. But standing here himself, there was nothing but the same unusual cold.

Blackburn frowned, thinking it must have been his own mind playing tricks on him. He let out another shudder before turning back again.

Closing in on the main corridor Lucas suddenly heard a voice speak out.

"- he was given detention after his last potion lesson. No one has seen him since."

Blackburn froze in place. He couldn't place the voice beyond knowing it belonged to an older student, but it was clear they were talking about him.

"Maybe he's back in the common room?" Another voice spoke out, closer than the previous.

The back of Lucas' hair raised as he realized that the voices belonged to Amadeus and Colton.

"I doubt it," Amadeus' voice answered "He would have had to eat at some point and no one has seen him in the great hall since lunch. He's probably down here still."

Lucas felt his heartbeat increase again. Amadeus and Colton were looking for him, worse still, he had nowhere good to hide. He was clearly visible from the main corridor which they were fast approaching, his only option was to turn back.

With only a split second to make a decision, Lucas tried to run back, hoping to hide behind the first corner possible.

"Hey, Amadeus," Colton's voice rang out from behind Lucas "I found him!"

Lucas could hear Amadeus and Colton pick up the pace and start running towards him. Dashing the corner, Lucas took cover behind it.

"No point in running away, Blackburn," Amadeus taunted "We'll find you regardless."

Lucas knew with dreadful certainty that they were speaking the truth. And with quivering hands he drew out his wand, readying himself to fight two four-year students.

"You practiced for this, Lucas" He whispered to himself "You can fight them."

"By all means hide, Lucas," Amadeus could be heard again, but now much closer "It makes all of this so much more fun."

Knowing he had to act, Lucas leapt out from around the corner. He waved his wand in the checkmark-like pattern. This was his one chance.

"Flippendo!"

Amadeus and Colton, both with wands at the ready, froze in reaction to hearing the jinx being uttered. Only for the both of them to burst into laughter as Lucas' spell fizzled. The first-year starred at his wand in disbelief, eyes wide with fear.

"Expelliarmus," Amadeus casually moved his wand in the pattern of the Disarming Charm. Lucas' willow wand flew out of his hand, hitting the side of the wall.

"What's the matter, Blackburn? Dropped your wand?" Colton teased before letting out a deep laugh. Lucas rushed forward in an effort to grab back his wand, but the two older students ran forth to stop him. Blackburn was pushed up against the wall.

"Get off me!" Lucas yelled as he struggled against their hold. Desperate, the young boy lashed out with a series of kicks, one of which landed on Amadeus' shin. The older student let out a cry in surprise and pain, losing his grasp on Blackburn. Lucas began thrashing even more wildly against his assailants in his attempt to escape, but Colton was too strong even by himself for Lucas to physically fight.

"You bloody little whelp," Amadeus spat out before punching Lucas square in the face. Colton let go of Lucas, letting the eleven-year-old fall to the ground with blood dripping from his nose.

"Why?" Lucas muttered through anguished sobs as he slid down to the floor, his back resting against the wall.

"Why? Because of your brother, that's why!" Amadeus decried, drawing out a pause to spit at his victim "I meant to get payback on him, but in his absence, I suppose you'll suffice."

Lucas said nothing but stare at Amadeus through tear-stained and swollen eyes. The older student continued.

"Your brother blocked us getting on the Quidditch team, even after my father offered donations if we were accepted."

"Too 'selfish', not big enough on 'teamplay,'" Colton derided with contempt "Hypocritical prick."

The two students glanced at each other. Amadeus readied his wand and aimed it at Lucas.

"Levicorpus," The student made an upward flick with his wand arm. Blackburn felt himself immediately being lifted up and being suspended upside down mid-air. Lucas started screaming for help but Colton muffled him with a new jinx that muffled his voice. The two students laughed in response.

"And to top it all off," Amadeus explained "Jacob embarrassed Slytherin with his obsession - by getting caught."

Colton snorted "Are you gonna keep talking to him, Amadeus? Or can I finally get a swing in?"

Amadeus grunted in acknowledgement. The two turned their attention back to Lucas still levitating helplessly in front of them. Colton began hitting him, striking him three times in succession as if he were some punching bag.

"Finite Incantatem," Amadeus dispelled the jinx used to levitate Lucas. The beaten student fell to the ground with a thud.

"A pity your brother is gone, Blackburn," Amadeus kicked the boy "I wish he could be here to see this."

"And if you tell anyone," Colton declared, but not before delivering his own kick to Blackburn's stomach "We'll do far worse to you."

And with that, both students left. Leaving Lucas on the cold floor weeping.

Gathering enough strength to pick himself up, Lucas hobbled his way back to the main corridor. Every step hurt as bad as when he first fought Merula. Emerging out into the primary hallway, Lucas saw an older student further ahead.

"Please help," Lucas croaked out. The student turned around, revealing himself to be Lucas' Prefect Felix.

"Merlin's beard!" Rosier cried out in shock at the sight in front of him before rushing to Lucas' aid.

Lucas soon found himself in the infirmary thanks to the assistance of his Prefect. With Madam Pomfrey gasping in shock upon seeing his bloodied nose as Felix dragged him through the door. The nurse, however, was quick to provide the care Blackburn needed, mending the bruises he had sustained and easing the pain he carried.

"Are you okay with telling me what happened?" Felix asked, having finally been allowed near Lucas after Pomfrey had made sure all his most immediate injuries had been healed "Who did this to you?"

Lucas said nothing, staring only up into the ceiling from the sick-bed he was laying in. Urging the Prefect to speak again.

"It wasn't Merula was it, Blackburn? It was someone else - Amadeus and Colton?"

Lucas remained silent, only slowly shaking his head while still looking up at the ceiling. Everything bad that had happened to him since he started was running through his mind, alongside the threat Amadeus and Colton made before leaving. None of the Prefects or teachers were able or willing to take action against those who bullied him back then. Telling them now would only make things worse, he thought.

"It was an accident," Lucas lied "I was just trying to cast Flippendo and it backfired."

Rosier gazed at Lucas "Blackburn, I know how a backfired Flipendo looks-"

"I'm telling the truth!" Lucas interrupted his Prefect, his voice pleading "Please, just leave me be. I'm tired and hungry."

Felix let out a sigh, he turned to face Madam Pomfrey and gave a nod signalling he was done disturbing one of her patients. the Prefect rose up from his chair and left but not before turning to Lucas one last time.

"I will inform Professor Snape of what happened. We will talk again tomorrow, If you want to add more then; you can. Good night, Blackburn."

Lucas did not answer back, watching as the Prefect left the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had temporarily gone somewhere else. No one else was in the hospital wing aside from another student fast asleep in the other end of the room.

Alone with his thoughts, the torment Lucas had gone through returned to haunt him. He felt his cheeks flush red and his breathing become heavy as he struggled to hold back tears. His heart an acid mixture of anger and shame. Bitter at the cruelty he had been subjected to by almost everyone here. And ashamed by his own weakness and inability to defend himself.

Awaiting Pomfrey's return, Lucas gazed vacantly out the nearest window. He hated all of it. Hated the school. Hated Amadeus, Colton, Merula and Snape.

But what he hated above all, was himself.


AN: I expect next chapter to take longer to be made. As there is more ground to cover, but hopefully you won't have to wait an eternity for it.